Finding the right moisturizer for your skin is downright the toughest task I have come across. It is easy to find a cleanser (not that easy, I admit, but then t gets washed off in a minute) or serum or even facial oil for that matter. But, not the moisturizer because it is supposed to stay at least 6-8 good hours. So, whenever I try a new moisturizer I am not usually optimistic and it was in same frame of mind I started using Satliva red raspberry face cream.

Over and above that this product has shea (sorry, it’s) mango butter which can be extremely moderately heavy and has hemp seed oil and raspberry oil. Especially given the weather and my combination skin, I thought I made the wrong choice when I was selecting the products for review. The only reason I picked this up was the presence of red raspberry oil which is known to be the best natural sun protector so if you can get your hands on the red raspberry oil, nothing better than that!!

Updated from 11th March, 2016. Free radicals are notorious for their aging effect on the skin. Topical application and ingestion of anti-oxidants is the only known way to combat their effects. However, bad lifestyle and other regular habits can also lead to the formation of free radicals in the body and if un-combated for long, they can result in serious diseases like cancer and auto-immune diseases.

How Free Radicals and Antioxidants affect our Bodies?

#DidYouKnow the very thing which we need to live ages us? The oxygen we breathe reacts with the skin cells to produce energy and build proteins. And, the by product of this reaction is reactive oxygen species. They can also result from environmental factors like excess sun exposure, smoking, drinking, pollution.

What are ROS?

This is from the post I had done on collagen formation and nutrition last year. In the post, I had barely touched on the effect of Oxidative Stress on our bodies. Free radicals are highly reactive and unstable molecules which often attach themselves to the next available molecule. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are specific types of free radicals which include single oxygen.

Free radicals are a natural by-product of the chemical reactions going on in the body. These are neutralized by the antioxidant defences in the body.

How do Free Radicals affect the body negatively?

However under stressful conditions, the production of free radicals increase to a great extent and they do not get neutralized by the anti-oxidants. That is when they start harming the body.

These radicals have a tendency to attach themselves to DNA structures, protein chains and fatty acids and a few enzymes in the body thereby altering their chemical make-up, and in the long run, affecting the performance of the organs.

Health Problems due to Free Radicals

Not only do the effects of free radicals are visible in forms of wrinkles and aged skin, it reduces the functional capabilities of various organs. Most of the degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and chronic fatigue has been linked to the accumulation of free radicals in the body.

Though ROS and free radicals are used in defence against the pathogens, excess of them can result in autoimmune diseases like leukaemia, hepatitis, diabetes, alopecia areta among many. Leukemia has become easy to treat due to the bone marrow transplantation procedure becoming common nowadays.

Which Anti-Oxidants help prevent Free Radical buildup?

There is no proof that anti-oxidants sourced from the food help with scavenging free radicals in the body. But, there is not harm in trying to supplement them through the diet.

The body’s anti-oxidant defense system is made up of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxdiase.

#DidYouKnow free radicals are also associated with graying of hair. Low levels of catalase lead to bleaching of the hair internally through hydrogen peroxide.

SOD has three major families depending on the protein and metal in the chain.

Copper and Zinc – Meat, eggs, Seafood, Dairy products, nuts like almonds and peanuts are all rich in Copper and Zinc.

How often do you go to a parlor? Once a month, may be? Ever since I started going to the parlor, some of the practices I found were completely unhygienic even in the best of them. Then, they would also not carry the same moisturizers and sunscreens. So, I started developing a habit of carrying my own go-to-parlor kit. My go-to parlor kit has must haves for salon sessions. You could also carry your own manicure and pedicure kits just to be on the safer side but I am lazy enough to skip that!!

Going to parlor is relaxing but sometimes it becomes a little frustrating for me when I see some of them doing things which they should not. Yes, turning a blind eye is the only thing you can do in fact. For example, they use the same knife/spatula to dip into the wax and use it on countless people. I also wish they have ice cubes when skin needs to be calmed down or soothed a little, especially after threading or waxing and even after extraction.

What are my must-haves to salon?

Change of Clothes

I always always carry my own clothes which I don in there before getting the services done and change back. I do not like what they provide unless they are disposables and hardly salons invest in them! So, I prefer to wear mine.

Hair Oil

I love head massages and there is nothing wrong with using the regular coconut or almond oil but I prefer to carry my own hair oil. Sometimes because I am in the middle of reviewing a product and sometimes because I want to just use up the stuff at home. There is no particular reason but I like to invest in my hair oils and use them. I also make my own customized changes to the oils by adding in essential oils and I would like to take full advantage of them. So, for me, hair oil is another must have for salon sessions.

Nail Paint

Well, I am not really a fan of nail paint but I have one signature shade which I absolutely love – the valentine from Faces. I discovered this particular shade of red when I was getting married and I have been consistently in love with it. I always carry my own nail paint when I go for pedicures or manicures.

Towel / Wash Cloth

No matter how much the service lady cleans off the wax, I feel some of it is left behind. Or, after the facial or the detan pack, there is quite a bit left on the ears or behind the ears or on the back if the girl is not good at her job. I carry the wash cloth for such exigencies. And, also because I like to use my own stuff. Again one of the most important must haves for salon trip.

Toners / Moisturizers and Sunscreen

The parlors do use astringents after the waxing but I like to hydrate my skin so I use toners. I do not like moisturizing right away because it can cause pigmentation. You should let the skin rest a while after waxing and before applying anything, at least not until you have washed the area in cold water.

But, then, after facials or any face service, they have generic moisturizers which I do not like to use. So, I carry my own moisturizer or an all-purpose product like nivea crème. Also, I prefer to go to salons in the evenings but just in case I go in the morning time, I always carry sunscreen and a scarf to cover my head completely. If you go in the mornings or afternoons, sunscreen is a prominent product in your must haves for salon trip.

So, I do my best to be as hygienic as possible but of course, at home services can be best sometimes, though the spatula problem remains.

Now, it’s your turn . . .

These are the things which make up my go-to-parlor kit. Do you have a go-to-parlor kit? What is your list of must haves for salon sessions? I would love to know your thoughts about it.

The costliest skin care product may turn out to be a dud. Skin care products need not be costly for them to be effective. True but which product available today falls under inexpensive category? For example, Lakme to Olay regenerist to Forest Essentials to The Body Shop, all of them are above 1000 INR mark. I am talking about the anti-aging products I have come across so please feel free to let me know if there are products under the 500-600 INR mark.

The depreciation of rupee, increase in economic status and easy access of international brands combined with the desire for luxury has made the beauty industry expensive and quite unaffordable, if I may say so. That of course does not stop us from splurging. So, we do the next best thing which is spend wisely and make informed decisions. So, that was when I got the idea of talking to five of my favorite bloggers about their costliest skin care product and whether it was worth it or not!

So, what is my costliest skin care product to date?

Well, as far as I can recall, I think it is Estee Lauder ANR. If I had bought it in India, it would have costed me 11K but thankfully my mom got two big 100ml bottles from Russia last year at 4200 Rs. In Indian currency, I have splurged the max on Kiehl’s Vitamin C serum at Rs 5000.

What do other bloggers have to say about their costliest skin care products?

Updated from 13 January, 2015. Bloating is a issue which I have personally faced and seeing it with my friends and family. Mr. P bloats up a lot! Anything and he bloats and then it becomes gas in the tummy. Rice, fried foods, even untimely munching bloats him up. And, this is a problem with everyone today whose lifestyle does not follow a routine. Eating at correct times in sufficient quantities is a good way to start fighting gastric problems. Anyways, let us get back to the post and see what five reasons could be causing your bloating.

My colleague always used to complain about chocolate. She used to hate it, not because of diet reasons which she was obviously conscious of!! But, because after eating chocolate, her tummy used to come out.

Have you ever noticed your tummy bulges after having meals or anything in particular? I have never noticed when it precisely happens to me but it does happen. I think it helps to keep track of what we are eating (a food journal) to overcome these issues. What do you say??

Leaving that aside, I wanted to discuss what all could cause bloating in the body!! The reasons can range from in-taking too much of salt causing water retention to irritable bowel syndrome to even hormonal issues!! Though salt is the biggest reason why you can be bloated, there are quite a lot of other reasons too.